• by Fern Siegel , March 29, 2013

Walgreens has tapped OMD to be its media planning and buying agency of record. OMD will be responsible for U.S. and Puerto Rico activity related to traditional, multicultural, digital and mobile media planning and buying.

The agency's Chicago office will lead the assignment, which also handles State Farm and McDonald's. The first work from OMD is expected to occur in the spring of 2013.

Kantar Media reports that the national pharmacy chain spent $291.8 million on U.S. measured media in 2012.

Starcom, which had been the 10-year incumbent, defended the business. 

Said Graham Atkinson, chief marketing and customer experience officer, Walgreens: “The agency’s expertise across all media channels will help us efficiently deliver our marketing messages in both the evolving retail and healthcare markets."

"We couldn't be more excited about our new relationship with Walgreens. From the first day it just felt right," added Alan Cohen, CEO, OMD USA.

Walgreens, the nation's largest drugstore chain, registered fiscal 2012 sales of $72 billion. It has 8,000 locations in the U.S.

A 2012 review made OMD's sibling agency, GSD&M in Austin, Texas, Walgreens' creative agency of record.